Mugello the next stop for the Repsol Honda Team

Italy, May 2022: Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro arrive in Italy resolute and determined to keep working with the Repsol Honda Team to deliver their full potential.

With a third of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship season now completed, a trip to Italy and to the iconic Mugello Circuit is next on the calendar for the Repsol Honda Team. The Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley is known for its high-speed straight, fast and flowing corners and hosting a number of incredible battles to the line in recent year. This will be the third set of back-to-back races in 2022 as the Catalan GP follows directly after.

Having taken sixth place in the previous round at the French Grand Prix, Marc Marquez sits tenth in the championship but is only 15 points behind fourth placed Alex Rins. The Mugello circuit has produced mixed fortunes for the #93 in the past, winning the 2014 edition and taking two further podiums in 2016 and 2019 while also being the scene of his first World Championship win back in 2010 in the 125cc class. In 2022, the objective for the weekend is to continue fighting for the maximum possible result while improving the Honda RC213V. With its fast and flowing nature, the Mugello circuit presents a new challenge after the two most recent rounds in Jerez and Le Mans.

Objectives on the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage are much the same as Pol Espargaro works with his experienced crew to find his pre-season form. During the French GP, the #44 was able to consistently lap in the 1’32s with just a handful of laps falling outside the range. Espargaro has consistently achieved point scoring finishes at the Italian GP with his best result coming in 2014 with fifth place. In 2010, he joined Marc Marquez on the podium at Mugello in the 125cc race.

Eyes will once again be looking skyward as forecasts for the weekend remain mixed. Action begins on Friday, May 27 with Free Practice 1 at 09:55 Local Time.

Marc Marquez 

“Mugello is always a great circuit to ride, it’s very fast and when you are pushing down the straight on a MotoGP bike, it’s a great feeling. We will see what’s possible this weekend, we need to arrive and see what the situation is and where we are. I know that by continuing to work with my team, with Honda, we can return to being where we know our potential is.”

Pol Espargaro 

“Last year in Mugello we had a bit of a difficult race so this year I am hoping we can have a more straight forward Italian GP. I have been continuing to train to my maximum at home to be ready. We couldn’t achieve what we wanted last time in France so the objective is of course to come back here in Italy. We have two races and a test in two weeks, there will be a lot of bike time for us which is good. Let’s get to work.”

Rider Standings

 

Pos Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor
1 QUARTARARO FABIO 20 FRA 102 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha
2 ESPARGARO ALEIX 41 SPA 98 Aprilia Racing Aprilia
3 BASTIANINI ENEA 23 ITA 94 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati
4 RINS ALEX 42 SPA 69 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki
5 MILLER JACK 43 AUS 62 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati
6 ZARCO JOHANN 5 FRA 62 Pramac Racing Ducati
7 BINDER BRAD 33 RSA 56 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM
8 BAGNAIA FRANCESCO 62 ITA 56 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati
9 MIR JOAN 36 SPA 56 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki
10 MARQUEZ MARC 93 SPA 54 Repsol Honda Team Honda
11 OLIVEIRA MIGUEL 88 POR 43 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM
12 ESPARGARO POL 44 SPA 40 Repsol Honda Team Honda
13 VINALES MAVERICK 12 SPA 33 Aprilia Racing Aprilia
14 NAKAGAMI TAKAAKI 30 JPN 30 LCR Honda Honda
15 MARTIN JORGE 89 SPA 28 Pramac Racing Ducati
16 MARINI LUCA 10 ITA 21 Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati
17 BEZZECCHI MARCO 73 ITA 19 Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati
18 MORBIDELLI FRANCO 21 ITA 19 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha
19 MARQUEZ ALEX 73 SPA 18 LCR Honda Honda
20 DOVIZIOSO ANDREA 4 ITA 8 WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Yamaha
21 BINDER DARRYN 40 RSA 6 WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Yamaha
22 DI GIANNANTONIO FABIO 49 ITA 3 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati
23 GARDNER REMY 87 AUS 3 Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing KTM